How to remove a node from an xml file using php and store it in another xml file?

Question

I have an xml file like this which have some alerts alert.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<alerts>
  <alert>
    <id>3</id>
    <msg_type>1</msg_type>
    <msg>Some Message</msg>
    <url>Some Link</url>
    <status>0</status>
    <create_date>1388049941</create_date>
    <update_date>1388052529</update_date>
  </alert>
  <alert>
    <id>6</id>
    <msg_type>1</msg_type>
    <msg>Some Message</msg>
    <url>Some Link</url>
    <status>0</status>
    <create_date>1388049941</create_date>
    <update_date>1388052529</update_date>
  </alert>
  <alert>
    <id>14</id>
    <msg_type>1</msg_type>
    <msg>Some Message</msg>
   <url>Some Link</url>
    <status>0</status>
    <create_date>1388049941</create_date>
    <update_date>1388052529</update_date>
  </alert>
  <alert>
    <id>24</id>
    <msg_type>1</msg_type>
    <msg>Some Message</msg>
    <url>Some Link</url>
    <status>0</status>
    <create_date>1388049941</create_date>
    <update_date>1388052529</update_date>
  </alert>
</alerts>

now I am reading this file using php like this to find a record.

$alerts = new simpleXMLElement($filename, null, true);
$search_mediums1 = $alerts->xpath('alert[msg_type=1]');

$search_mediums = array_reverse($search_mediums1);
foreach ($search_mediums as $arr_alert) {
    if ($arr_alert->id == $my_id) {
        // i want some code here to delete that node
        // and put it into some other xml with same structure file
        break;
    }
}

I have find some solutions with DOMDocument(); class but I am using here simpleXMLElement
Its working fine to find the record of desired msg_type=1 and id=$my_id now I want to remove the node from alert.xml file, if find and put it into other xml file which have same format as alert.xml. How can I remove the node from 'alert.xml' and put it in another xml file ?

There doesn't seem to have a removeChild() method or alike in SimpleXMLElement. While it may still be doable, I would recommend to use DOMDocument instead. — Passerby
– Passerby, Commented Dec 27, 2013 at 6:19
ya but i want to find the node with some condition also using xpath — Satish Sharma
– Satish Sharma, Commented Dec 27, 2013 at 6:20
DOMDocument has XPath support too: php.net/manual/en/class.domxpath.php — Passerby
– Passerby, Commented Dec 27, 2013 at 6:22

Passerby · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-27 07:03:24Z

2

According to PHP Doc, SimpleXMLElement doesn't have a removeChild() method or alike, so you may have better luck with DOMDocument instead.

Changing this code to DOM is straightforward, although DOM codes will seem a little long and verbose...

$dom=new DOMDocument();
$dom->loadXML(/* XML content */);
$xpath=new DOMXPath($dom);
$nodeList=$xpath->query('alert[msg_type=1]');
$myID=14; // Just to demonstrate
foreach($nodeList as $node)
{
    foreach($node->childNodes as $child)
    {
        if($child->nodeName=="id")
        {
            if($child->textContent==$myID)
            {
                $node->parentNode->removeChild($node);
            }
            break;
        }
    }
}
echo $dom->saveXML();

Online demo

The output:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<alerts>
  <alert>
    <id>3</id>
    <msg_type>1</msg_type>
    <msg>Some Message</msg>
    <url>Some Link</url>
    <status>0</status>
    <create_date>1388049941</create_date>
    <update_date>1388052529</update_date>
  </alert>
  <alert>
    <id>6</id>
    <msg_type>1</msg_type>
    <msg>Some Message</msg>
    <url>Some Link</url>
    <status>0</status>
    <create_date>1388049941</create_date>
    <update_date>1388052529</update_date>
  </alert>

  <alert>
    <id>24</id>
    <msg_type>1</msg_type>
    <msg>Some Message</msg>
    <url>Some Link</url>
    <status>0</status>
    <create_date>1388049941</create_date>
    <update_date>1388052529</update_date>
  </alert>
</alerts>

You can see the <alert> with <id>14</id> is removed.

Additional:

To move the deleted node to another document, do this:

$target=new DOMDocument();
$target->loadXML(/* xml */);
/* ... */
if($child->textContent==$myID)
{
    $target->documentElement->appendChild($target->importNode($node,true));
    $node->parentNode->removeChild($node);
}
/* ... */

Online demo

edited Dec 27, 2013 at 7:03

answered Dec 27, 2013 at 6:45

Passerby

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2 Comments

Satish Sharma Over a year ago

thanks bro !! i tried and use the dom_import_simplexml method and its worked now how can i put that node into another xml file

Satish Sharma Over a year ago

thanks!! i tried your code in my own answer and its working. i am updating my own answer for issue-2. please see it. i am really thankful to for your help. thanks bro !!

Satish Sharma · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-27 07:21:12Z

1

i have solved one issue that remove the desired node using dom_import_simplexml method as follows

$alerts = new simpleXMLElement($filename, null, true);
$search_mediums1 = $alerts->xpath('alert[msg_type=1]');

$search_mediums = array_reverse($search_mediums1);
foreach($search_mediums as $arr_alert)
{
    if($arr_alert->id==$my_id)
    {
       // Deleting the Node 
        $domRef = dom_import_simplexml($arr_alert);
        $domRef->parentNode->removeChild($domRef);
        $dom = new DOMDocument('1.0');
        $dom->preserveWhiteSpace = false;
        $dom->formatOutput = true;
        $dom->loadXML($alerts->asXML());
        $dom->save($filename);


       // moving the Node into another file
        $target=new DOMDocument();
        $target->formatOutput = true;
        $target->preserveWhiteSpace = false;
        $target_content = file_get_contents($target_filename);
        $target->loadXML($target_content);
        $target->documentElement->appendChild($target->importNode($domRef,true));
        $target->save($target_filename);
        break;
    }
}

edited Dec 27, 2013 at 7:21

answered Dec 27, 2013 at 6:55

Satish Sharma

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1 Comment

Satish Sharma Over a year ago

i find the anwer in my code with help of @Passerby. thanks a lot Passerby

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